Calls for reporter to halt Lathro phase two
A civic trust has asked a government employee to reconsider his intent to grant a housebuilder consent to press on with the next phase of a development in Kinross in light of ongoing complaints about the scheme’s sewers.
The Kinross-shire Civic Trust (KCT) has written to government reporter David Buylla urging him to pay particular attention to complaints raised in the last few weeks over trucks having to drain faulty sewers at Lathro Meadows before making a final decision.
Mr Buylla announced in January this year he was “minded” to grant Persimmon Homes consent to add another 169 houses to the development after reviewing the reasons councillors gave to refuse the company’s latest application relating to phase two of the scheme last year and disagreeing with every single one.
He said in his notice of intention he had been sent no evidence to suggest the drainage problems people living in parts of phase one of the scheme are said to have been putting up with for at least 18 months would have “any implications for my assessment of phase two”.
The trust has now asked Mr Buylla to consider requesting additional information about the current state of the sewers from the likes of Scottish Water and SEPA before deciding whether or not to grant Persimmon Homes full permission to press on with phase two.
The group’s letter to Mr Buylla said: “Lathro Meadows residents are in a state of anger and disbelief that you are minded to grant planning consent for phase two given the conditions they are living in. The drainage problems are clearly not easy to resolve, they have been ongoing for at least 18 months.
“If the system requires frequent intervention ... this must raise questions over the condition of the pipes that have been laid. If they are leaking and overflowing then there may be pollution of the groundwater ... which ultimately means that there is a risk of pollution to Loch Leven, which is of national importance and ... [a] Special Protection Area.
“It is possible that there is something that has been overlooked about the site conditions or design which means that the drainage system installed so far may never work successfully, or perhaps it is due to incompetent installation, or a combination of factors.
“In view of the health risks to residents and potential pollution of Loch Leven, the trust believes that a thorough investigation of the drainage problems must take place before planning permission for phase two is granted.”
The government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division’s (DPEA) website currently states Mr Buylla intends to make his final decision on the case by the end of this month.
DPEA case officer Laura Walker has now written to Persimmon Homes and Perth and Kinross Council asking them to respond to the points raised by the trust by the end of next week.
A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes said yesterday: “We would like reassure local residents and the wider Kinross community that works to facilitate the adoption of the sewer network are our priority and we apologise for any continued inconvenience.”